Location: Portugal
Functional Art with CALÇADA PORTUGUESA (Portuguese Pavement)
When you arrive in a Portuguese city, either by car or by bike, you first notice the sound the tires make as you transition from asphalt or concrete to the traditional cobblestones. Known as Calcada Portuguesa or Portuguese Pavement, not only do they serve a functional purpose, but these natural white and black limestone rocks line the roads, sidewalks and plazas across Portugal in decorative patterns. While they may not be as durable and can be more hazardous when wet, they provide a glimpse into local history – at your feet – as you wander around towns. The placement of these stones by hand is a dying art form that started in the 1500s.
You will also find the stones lining the trolley tracks or guiding you to the front door of an historic fort.
Stones guide tourists and locals on the street around the local church and then are used as leading steps to the church’s front entrance in a small village.
The stones provide areas to shop in the park underneath a Roman aqueduct and provide additional space for outdoor seating in a small, back-alley plaza.
Stones provide directional guidance to people and cars.
Circle patterns provide creative use of a space.
Stars are a popular shape, creating your own Walk of Fame – Hollywood style.
If you are going to have to watch where you walk, it helps to have some sidewalk artistry to admire.
Street Art Construction
The building of a sidewalk or road starts with the preparation of the individual stones.
Next, the stones are manually positioned slowly, one by one in a bed of sand. The skilled craftspeople who are dedicated to this art form are called ‘mestres calceteiros’.
Eventually, the puzzle begins to take shape.
In the final stage, the stones are surrounded by sand and finished off with a glaze to keep the pattern in place. Only time, the elements and traffic patterns will wear upon these stones.
Cultural Identity
The artistry is part of Portugal’s cultural identity. To highlight the global importance, Portugal has submitted an application to receive UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status for this art form. From geometric patterns to regional stories, the stones can be taken to a whole new level of artistry in the right hands.
Slideshow (7 artistic images)
The city of Vila Nova de Foz Coa uses the sidewalk to highlight the archeologically significant petroglyphs found nearby at the Coa river’s edge.
Intricate artistic examples.
Sometimes, the artistry is in the randomness of it all.
The Praca do Emigrante World Globe monument in Ribeira Grande on the island of Sao Miguel in the Azores stands as a testament to this art form. Not only does it tell an incredible story of island inhabitants emigrating to the U.S., but it provides another example of how function can be superseded by art. Keep your eye out for unique cultural artistry like Portuguese Pavement as you travel to other parts of the world.
Planning Resources
| Location – Portugal Airport Codes | Lisbon Airport (LIS) Porto Airport (OPO) Faro (FAO) Sao Miguel, Azores (PDL) |
| Visitor Resources | Visit Portugal: Link Visit the Côa Valley Archaeological Park and Museum: Link |
| Tours | Lisbon Walking Tours: Link Porto Walking Tours: Link Portugal Audio Tours (VoiceMap): : Link |
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